**General Science Exam Reviewer**

**Section 1: Physics**

**1.** Define Newton's First Law of Motion.

**2.** What is the difference between speed and velocity?

**3.** Explain how a lever works and provide examples of each class of levers.

**4.** Describe the difference between conductors and insulators in terms of electricity.

**5.** What is the principle behind a simple pendulum's motion?

**Section 2: Chemistry**

**6.** Define the terms "element" and "compound" in chemistry.

**7.** Explain the process of combustion and provide an example.

**8.** What is the pH scale? How does it indicate whether a substance is acidic, neutral, or
basic?

**9.** What are the three states of matter? Describe the properties of each state.

**10.** Define an exothermic reaction and provide an example.

**Section 3: Biology**

**11.** Describe the process of photosynthesis and its importance in the ecosystem.

**12.** What is the function of the circulatory system? Name the main components of the human
circulatory system.

**13.** Explain the difference between mitosis and meiosis.

**14.** Define ecosystem and describe the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers
within it.

**15.** What is DNA replication, and why is it essential for cell division?

**Section 4: Earth Science**

**17.** Explain the process of erosion and give examples of agents of erosion.

**18.** What is a volcano, and how does it form? Mention the types of volcanic eruptions.

**19.** Define a fossil and explain how fossils provide evidence for evolution.

**20.** Describe the water cycle and its role in maintaining Earth's ecosystems.

**Section 5: Space Science**

**21.** Define a constellation and provide an example.

**22.** Explain the difference between a planet and a star.

**23.** What is a solar eclipse, and how does it occur? How is it different from a lunar eclipse?

**24.** Describe the stages of a star's life cycle, from its birth to its death.

**25.** What is the Hubble Space Telescope, and how has it contributed to our understanding of
the universe?

**Section 6: Environmental Science**

**26.** Define biodiversity and explain its importance in ecosystems.

**27.** What is the greenhouse effect, and how does it contribute to global warming?

**28.** Describe the concept of sustainable development and provide an example.

**29.** Explain the process of deforestation and its environmental impacts.

**30.** What are renewable and non-renewable resources? Give examples of each.

ANSWER KEYS

**Section 1: Physics**

1. Newton's First Law of Motion states that an object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a
straight line unless acted upon by an external force.

2. Speed is a scalar quantity that represents the distance traveled per unit of time, while velocity
is a vector quantity that includes both speed and direction.
3. Levers are simple machines that consist of a fulcrum, load, and effort. The three classes of
levers are:
- First-class lever: Fulcrum is between the load and the effort. Example: seesaw.
- Second-class lever: Load is between the fulcrum and the effort. Example: wheelbarrow.
- Third-class lever: Effort is between the fulcrum and the load. Example: human forearm lifting
a weight.

4. Conductors are materials that allow the flow of electric current, while insulators prevent the
flow of electric current.

5. A simple pendulum's motion is governed by the length of the string and the gravitational
acceleration. It exhibits simple harmonic motion, swinging back and forth.

**Section 2: Chemistry**

6. An element is a pure substance composed of atoms with the same atomic number. A
compound is a substance composed of two or more elements chemically combined in a fixed
ratio.

7. Combustion is a chemical reaction between a fuel and an oxidizing agent (usually oxygen),
producing heat, light, and new chemical compounds. Example: burning of wood.

8. The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. A pH value below 7 is acidic, 7 is
neutral, and above 7 is basic.

9. The three states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. Solids have a definite shape and volume,
liquids have a definite volume but take the shape of their container, and gases have neither a
definite shape nor volume.

10. An exothermic reaction releases heat energy to the surroundings. Example: burning of fuels
like gasoline.

**Section 3: Biology**

11. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water
into glucose and oxygen, using chlorophyll in their chloroplasts.

12. The circulatory system transports blood, nutrients, and oxygen throughout the body.
Components include the heart, blood vessels, and blood.

13. Mitosis is cell division resulting in two identical daughter cells, each with the same number of
chromosomes. Meiosis is a type of cell division that produces gametes (sperm and egg cells)
with half the number of chromosomes.
14. An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with their non-living
environment. Producers (plants), consumers (animals), and decomposers (bacteria, fungi) play
roles in nutrient cycling.

15. DNA replication is the process where DNA molecules create identical copies. It's essential
for cell division as each daughter cell needs a complete set of genetic information.

**Section 4: Earth Science**

16. The greenhouse effect is the trapping of heat in the Earth's atmosphere due to greenhouse
gases, leading to an increase in global temperatures.

17. Erosion is the process of wearing away soil and rock by natural forces like wind, water, or
ice. Agents of erosion include water, wind, ice, and gravity.

18. A volcano is a vent in the Earth's crust through which molten rock, ash, and gases are
expelled. It forms due to the movement of tectonic plates. Types of volcanic eruptions include
effusive and explosive.

19. Fossils are the remains of ancient plants and animals. They provide evidence for evolution
by showing how life forms have changed over time.

20. The water cycle is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of
the Earth. It involves processes like evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

**Section 5: Space Science**

21. A constellation is a group of stars that forms a recognizable pattern. Example: Orion.

22. A planet is a celestial body that orbits a star, shines by reflected light, and has a nearly
spherical shape. A star is a luminous celestial object primarily composed of hydrogen
undergoing nuclear fusion.

23. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, blocking
sunlight. A lunar eclipse happens when Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, causing
the Earth's shadow to fall on the Moon.

24. A star's life cycle includes its formation from a nebula, main sequence phase, red giant or
supergiant phase, and either a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole phase.

25. The Hubble Space Telescope is a space-based observatory that has provided detailed
images of distant galaxies, planets, and other astronomical phenomena, leading to
groundbreaking discoveries about the universe's age, expansion, and more.
**Section 6: Environmental Science**

26. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms in a given area. It is essential for ecosystem
stability, resilience, and maintaining ecological balance.

27. The greenhouse effect is the warming of the Earth's surface due to the buildup of
greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate
change.

28. Sustainable development is the practice of using resources in a way that meets present
needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Example:
using renewable energy sources.

29. Deforestation is the clearing of forests for various reasons, such as agriculture, logging, and
urban development. It leads to habitat loss, reduced biodiversity, and contributes to climate
change.

30. Renewable resources can be replenished over time, such as solar energy and wind energy.
Non-renewable resources, like fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), are finite and deplete over
time.